Mulligan mobilization and stretching for cervical radiculopathy

Effects of Mulligan Mobilization and Stretching on Cervical Radiculopathy

This will test whether Mulligan mobilization or targeted neck-stretching exercises reduce pain, lower disability, and improve neck motion for adults aged 20–50 with cervical radiculopathy.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 20 Years to 50 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Riphah International University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Peshawar, KPK)
• Trial ID: NCT07045974 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with cervical radiculopathy who have positive clinical tests (Spurling, ULTT, cervical distraction, and rotation toward the symptomatic side) are assigned to receive either Mulligan mobilization or a program of stretching exercises. Pain, disability level, and cervical range of motion are measured before and after the intervention to compare effects between the two groups. Participants with systemic musculoskeletal disease, primary shoulder problems, cardiovascular or respiratory disorders, or specific cervical pathology (for example stenosis or osteophytes) are excluded. The interventions are delivered in-person at clinical sites in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 20–50 years old with neck pain radiating to the arm and positive Spurling, ULTT, cervical distraction, and symptomatic-side rotation tests who can attend in-person treatment.

Not a fit: Patients with systemic musculoskeletal disease, primary shoulder/upper-extremity problems, cardiovascular or respiratory disorders, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, canal stenosis, or cervical osteophytes (or those outside the 20–50 age range) are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from these interventions.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, these manual therapy or exercise approaches could reduce pain and disability and improve neck movement, offering a low-cost non-surgical option.

How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller physiotherapy trials have shown mixed but generally promising results for Mulligan mobilization and targeted stretching in reducing neck pain and improving motion.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants falling in this category would be recruited into the study.

  * Both genders
  * Age between 20-50 years
  * Subjects with neck pain radiating down to the arm
  * Patients with positive findings for spurling test, Upper Limb Tension Test (ULTT), cervical distraction test and cervical rotation test towards the symptomatic side
  * Subjects who were willing to participate in the study and willing to take treatment for cervical radiculopathy.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participant failing to fall in this category would be excluded of the study.

  * Systemic disease potentially affecting the musculoskeletal system Patients experiencing primary shoulder or upper extremity problem of local origin
  * Patients with any cardiovascular disorders and respiratory disorders
  * Patients with any other pathological conditions involving cervical spine like vertebro basilar insufficiency and canal stenosis
  * Patients having osteophytes in cervical vertebrae
  * Patients who were undergoing treatment for neck pain with other means of physiotherapy at the time of the study
  * Hypermobile joints of cervical vertebrae, Cervical fractures, spinal surgery or other spinal pathologies (i.e. ankylosing spondylitis, spondylolysthesis)
  * Peripheral nerve lesions like neurotemesis and axonotemesis

Where this trial is running

Peshawar, KPK

• Leady Reading Hospital (LRH), Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) — Peshawar, Kpk, Pakistan (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Ayesha Sadiq, MSPT (OMPT) — Riphah International University
• Study coordinator: Ayesha Sadiq, MSPT (OMPT)

Conditions Cervical Radiculopathy; Pain; Disability Level; Range of Motion